Shawnee Tribe facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,226 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Oklahoma) |
|
| Languages | |
| Shawnee, English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Native American Church, traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Shawnee tribes and the Sauk people |
The Shawnee Tribe is a Native American tribe officially recognized by the United States government. They live in Oklahoma. This tribe was once known as the Loyal Shawnee. They are one of three Shawnee tribes that the government officially recognizes. The other two are the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
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How the Shawnee Tribe is Governed
The main office for the Shawnee Tribe is in Miami, Oklahoma. The tribe has about 2,226 members, called tribal citizens. About 1,070 of these members live in Oklahoma.
As of 2025, the leaders of the tribe are:
- Chief: Ben Barnes
- Second Chief: Roy Baldridge
- Treasurer: Mark McDowell
- Secretary: Carolyn Foster
- Business Council Seat 1: John Sparkman
- Business Council Seat 2: Diana McLean
- Business Council Seat 3: Drew Dixon
- Business Council Seat 4: Corey Winesburg
- Business Council Seat 5: Monty Coombes
- Business Council Seat 6: Lee Bluejacket
- Business Council Seat 7: Keni Hood
Before this, Ron Sparkman was the elected chairman. He served for four years.
How the Tribe Supports Itself
The Shawnee Tribe has several ways to help its community and create jobs. They create their own special license plates for cars. They also have a housing authority, which helps members find homes.
The tribe runs businesses like the Shawnee Trails Gift Shop and Gallery. They also have companies called Shawnee Development LLC and Shawnee Heritage Government Solutions. These businesses help the tribe's economy grow. Experts believe the tribe adds about $3 million to the economy each year.
Shawnee Development LLC started in 2001. It is owned by the tribe but works like a separate business. The tribe also publishes a newspaper called The Shawnee Journal. It is given for free to all tribal members.
Shawnee Culture and Traditions
The Shawnee Tribe keeps many of its old traditions alive. They hold special events like the Spring and Fall Bread Dance. They also celebrate the Green Corn ceremony and perform stomp dances. These important gatherings happen at their ceremonial grounds in White Oak, Oklahoma.
Some Shawnee people are also part of the Native American Church. They take part in special ceremonies, usually during the winter. These ceremonies are different from the tribe's older traditions.
A Look at Shawnee History
The Shawnee Tribe is one of the Native American peoples who lived in the eastern forests. Their original homes were in Ohio and Pennsylvania. They were among the last Shawnee groups to leave these traditional lands.
In the late 1700s, as more European Americans moved into their lands, one group of Shawnee moved to Missouri. This group later became the Absentee Shawnee. In 1817, the Shawnee were given three special areas, called reservations, in Ohio. These were Wapakoneta, Lewistown, and Hog Creek.
Moving Westward
After a law called the Indian Removal Act was passed in 1830, many Native American tribes were forced to move. Another Shawnee group, who would become the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, moved to what was called Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in July 1831. The group that would become the Shawnee Tribe moved to Kansas in August 1831. Their lands in Kansas became much smaller in 1854. By 1858, these lands were divided into smaller pieces for individual families.
The Civil War and Its Aftermath
During the American Civil War, many members of the Shawnee Tribe supported the Union side. This is why they were sometimes called the "Loyal Shawnee." However, when they returned to Kansas after the war, they found that many new settlers had taken over their lands. About 130,000 acres (526 square kilometers) of Shawnee land went to these settlers. The tribe was left with about 70,000 acres (283 square kilometers), and 20,000 acres (81 square kilometers) of that went to the Absentee Shawnee.
Joining and Becoming Independent Again
In 1861, Kansas became a state. Many people in Kansas wanted all Native American tribes to move out of the state. In 1869, the Loyal Shawnee made an agreement with the Cherokee Nation. This allowed 722 Shawnee people to become citizens of the Cherokee tribe and receive land from them. They mostly settled in areas that are now Craig and Rogers County, Oklahoma. They were known as the "Cherokee Shawnee."
Starting in the 1980s, the Shawnee Tribe began working to become their own independent tribe again, separate from the Cherokee Nation. In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed a special law, the Shawnee Tribe Status Act. This law allowed the Shawnee Tribe to become its own official, recognized tribe. James R. Squirrel was the first Chairman. He was recognized in 2009 for his important role in helping the Shawnee Tribe gain federal recognition.
Famous Shawnee People
Here are some notable individuals from the Shawnee Tribe:
- Heidi BigKnife: A talented jeweler and silversmith.
- Ruthe Blalock Jones: A well-known painter, printmaker, and art teacher.
- Yvonne Chouteau: A famous ballet dancer, known as a prima ballerina.
- Timmy Lee Jr: A Texas Blues Rock guitarist.
See also
